University food truck ranges beyond campus

MURRAY, Ky. — The man holding the reins of the Pony Express and its humorous Twitter account has grown the food truck phenomenon exponentially since he took over in July of 2014.

Joseph Woods, assistant manager of Dining Services and Racer Hospitality, was handed control of the Pony Express one year after its start in July of 2013. A man of average height and a tan complexion, Woods started working at the University in 2007 even before he obtained a degree here in 2011.

Woods also spearheaded the ideas of Wild Wing Wednesdays at Winslow, Campus Pizza and the installation of Big Ass Fans in Winslow. The Pony Express, though, was the first of his “brain children,” as he calls them, to go viral on a social medium.

Nicholas Buckingham, assistant manager of Dining Services and Racer Hospitality, set up the Pony Express in 2013 and managed it until Woods took over in 2014. The Twitter account has since grown in followers from about 480 to more than 1,300. While Woods does not drive the truck or serve the food, he writes the specials and controls the options it provides.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it,” he said.

While Dining Services has Emily Asher, manager of data and communications, to handle all of its social media, the Pony Express has Woods.

Woods tweets the daily movements of the truck, the weekly specials and answers questions students tweet at him. The account isn’t afraid to joke with students and has no qualms about responding with- “bae” and other terms of endearment.

“I think it’s important to at least relate to the students,” he said. “You can’t take Twitter too seriously. That’s not what it’s supposed to be for.”

The Pony’s roaming isn’t limited to University grounds, however. It extends into several apartment complexes and neighborhoods that are primarily occupied by Murray State students, such as the Cambridge neighborhoods. The Pony also serves both Campus Evolution Villages North and South on a month-by-month catering contract.